I often read “advice” on this topic and cringe. My own experiences have been that many therapists really don’t get what living with a parent’s mental illness means. As an adult who had a mother with a severe mental illness, I still don’t feel like many people can really understand. I can think of only a handful of people I’ve come across who seem to get what my journey as a child was like. Sometimes I will connect with an adult with a similar experience and it is amazing. Often the other person will say “I’ve never met anyone else who had a similar experience.”

You can’t fix what is going on in the child’s life but you absolutely acknowledge their situation is difficult. I know as a child, people rarely even acted as if they were aware of my mother’s bizarre behavior. When I worked in child welfare, I often believed the only real thing I could do is tell kids it wasn’t their fault, it can get better and their life isn’t hopeless. I am also all for trying to find a safe adult for the child to speak to. It can be a therapist, friend’s parent, teacher or other family member. It can be you.

Quote

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you."~ Jim Rohn